Flood resilience works
The Queensland Government, via the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), is improving the resilience of the state-controlled road network at priority sites impacted by recent severe weather events.
We are implementing measures to minimise the impact of future floods and minimise disruptions caused by road closures.
Benefits
- Improves flood immunity
- Contributes to regional growth
- Contributes to economy
- Restores damaged infrastructure
Key features
- Strengthening and altering levels of road surfaces to make them more flood resistant.
- Sealing unsealed road sections to minimise damage from heavy rainfall.
- Stabilising slopes to prevent erosion and landslips.
- Installing larger culverts to improve flood capacity.
- Drainage and floodway enhancements to improve run-off and mitigate erosion and scouring.
- Batter protection to reduce the impacts of high-velocity flows on bridges and floodways.
- Floodproof covers for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) equipment.
Current status
Construction on betterment projects in the 2021–22 package has been completed.
Construction on betterment projects in the 2022–23 package is expected to be completed by December 2026.
Design, procurement and works are underway for betterment projects in the 2023–24 package.
Detailed project scope development, pre-construction design and procurement activities are underway for betterment projects in the 2024–25 package.
Detailed project scope development is commencing for betterment projects in the 2025–26 package.
Funding
The extraordinary disaster assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Betterment projects in the 2021–22 package
28 betterment projects to improve the resilience of southern Queensland state-controlled roads impacted by 4 major floods have been completed.
Before and after photos
Burnett Highway (Nanango–Goomeri) concrete batter protection (before on the left and after on the right).
Dalby–Cecil Plains Road stabilised pavement, concrete batters and floodways (before on the left and after on the right).
Betterment projects in the 2022–23 package
Stabilising and sealing gravel sections to improve resilience to prolonged inundation at 1 site on Gregory Downs–Camooweal Road and 3 sites on Burke Developmental Road (Normanton–Dimbulah).
Betterment projects in the 2023–24 package
Betterment works will aim to improve the resilience of key state-controlled roads in far north Queensland damaged by Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
- Forsayth Road pavement resilience.
- Burke Development Road construction of new concrete floodways.
- Mulligan Highway (Mareeba–Mount Molloy) drainage improvements.
- Mulligan Highway (Lakeland–Cooktown) drainage improvements.
- Captain Cook Highway (multiple sites) drainage, pavement and slope resilience improvements.
- Captain Cook Highway (Pebbly Beach) foam bitumen.
- Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range Road) upgrade drainage.
- Mossman–Mount Molloy Road drainage improvements and pavement resilience.
- Mossman–Daintree Road drainage improvements and pavement resilience.
- Stratford Connection Road drainage improvements
Betterment projects in the 2024–25 packages
Following heavy rainfall and flooding in early 2025, betterment works will aim to improve the resilience of the Bruce Highway as a critical freight route and key inland routes critical for resupply and connectivity for rural and regional communities in north Queensland. Works will include installing larger culverts to improve flood capacity, bridge improvements, more resilient pavement and raising road formations.
Following record-breaking flooding from March to May 2025, TMR will improve the resilience of 6 key state routes impacted by the Western Queensland Surface Trough, to reduce damage costs and road closure durations as a result of future disaster events. Projects include:
- Eyre Development Road—Cuttaburra crossing upgrade
- Bulloo Developmental Road (Cunnamulla—Thargomindah), Paroo River Bridge
- Quilpie – Thargomindah Road, South Comongin Crossing upgrade
- Balonne Highway (St George—Cunnamulla), Wallam Creek drainage upgrades
- Hungerford Road, Paroo River crossing upgrade
- Diamantina Developmental Road (Charleville—Quilpie) – floodway and drainage updates
Betterment projects in the 2025–26 package
Following significant monsoonal rainfall and Tropical Cyclone Koji in early 2026, 5 projects will improve the flood resilience of essential road infrastructure impacted by this event.